Covid-19: clear acceleration of the pandemic in Africa, warns WHO

The speed at which the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has doubled - less than 20 days - shows the acceleration of the spread of the new coronavirus in Africa, warned, Thursday, June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) .

According to an AFP count on the basis of official sources, the bar of 200,000 contaminations by the new coronavirus in Africa was crossed on Tuesday.

"It took 98 days to reach the 100,000 mark and only 18 days to cross the 200,000 mark," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, during a briefing. press by video at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

More than 200,000 cases of # COVID19 have been confirmed on the African continent, with more than 5,600 deaths. Although Africa accounts for only a small fraction of the overall number of cases worldwide, cases are increasing at an accelerated rate. https://t.co/ogZRu6pi5X pic.twitter.com/9Usoc0X9bw

"Even if these cases recorded in Africa represent less than 3% of the world total, it is clear that the pandemic is accelerating" on the continent, she said.

Covid-19 has infected nearly 7.4 million people worldwide and killed at least 416,000 since the outbreak of the epidemic in China in December, according to AFP figures. According to the same count, Africa counted at 11 am GMT, Thursday, 210,519 cases including 5,635 deaths.

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In Africa, "the pandemic remains concentrated in and around the capitals, but we are seeing more and more cases in the provinces," continued Dr Moeti, who believes that the virus has entered most countries of the continent through the capitals, via international flights.

Over 70% of deaths in Africa concentrated in five countries

"Ten of the 54 African countries" record 80% of the cases, and South Africa alone 25% of them, she also underlined. Over 70% of deaths are recorded in just five countries: South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt and Sudan.

While it is possible that some asymptomatic or mild cases go under the radar, WHO Africa does not believe that a significant number of serious cases or deaths are not counted in Africa, according to Dr Moeti.

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The relative youth of the African population compared to that of other continents, and the experience acquired in the management of other epidemics were cited among the reasons explaining the death rate in Africa, lower than that of other continents.

Early measures in some African countries have kept the balance sheets low, but constant vigilance remains essential, according to Dr Moeti.

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"Before we have access to an effective vaccine, I fear that we have to live with a constant rise in the region, with outbreaks to manage in many countries, as is currently the case in South Africa, in Algeria, and in Cameroon, which require very strong public health measures, "she continued. "We sincerely hope that we will not see overwhelmed health systems," she concluded.

With AFP

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